Police serve search warrant in Ballard, SWAT called

SWAT officer move into position on Leary Way Northwest during a standoff on Thursday night. (Joshua Trujillo, Seattlepi.com)

Authorities closed a section of Leary Way near Northwest 45th Street on Thursday night after a man believed to have several weapons refused to surrender to officers serving a search warrant, according to police.

Two men, believed to be accomplices of the man refusing to surrender, were initially detained. Police said the third man wanted by police was being investigated by the Major Crimes Taskforce, a detective group created in 2003 to identify and apprehend auto theft offenders.

An officer aims his weapon toward a building where a man wanted by the Major Crimes Taskforce was believed to be hiding. (Joshua Trujillo, Seattlepi.com)

Police spokespeople described the investigation as active and ongoing, and did not discuss arrests Thursday night.

Members of the SWAT team were involved in the incident. At about 8:30 p.m., bystanders heard several explosions, believed to be fired from police tactical units in an attempt to make the third man surrender.

Police said the suspect inside the commercial building had a long criminal history, but department spokespeople did not release his name or detail his crimes.

A man matching the name negotiators were calling over the public address system has a criminal history with 10 felonies, including burglary and stolen property cases, and several misdemeanors including obstruction theft and vehicle prowling.

Court records show that man was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle earlier this year, and had a warrant issued in March.